Water conservation means in flush-type toilet tanks



s- 1965 J. MOSCHETTA ETAL 3,199,118

WATER CONSERVATION MEANS IN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 8, 196

8- 1965 J. MOSCHETTA ETAL 3,199,113

WATER CONSERVATION MEANS IN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS Filed Jan. 8, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 2 s- 1965 J. MOSCHETTA ETAL 3,199,118

WATER CONSERVATION MEANS IN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS Filed Jan. 8, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 3 x IV INVENTORS .7055? Mill/777), mm BEA/4M0) Mia/67m 10,1965 J. MOSCHETTA ETAL 3,199,118

WATER CONSERVATION MEANS IN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS Filed Jan. 8, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 1965 J. MQSCHETTA ETAL 3,199,118

WATER CONSERVATION MEANS IN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS Filed Jan. 8, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,199,113 WA'I'ER CONSERVATION MEANSIN FLUSH-TYPE TOILET TANKS Joseph Moschetta and Benjamin Moschetta, bothof 535 Dixie Drive, Pittsburgh 35, Pa. Filed Jan. 8, 1963, Ser. No.250,110 1 Claim. (Ci. 4--67) The present invention relates to flush typetoilets and more particularly it relates to the conservation of waterused to flush toilet tanks.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide operatingmeans to permit use of selective quantities of water in flushingoperation, as, for example, the entire water contents within the toilettank would be used to flush solid matter, whereas only one-half of theentire water content of the tank would be used to flush urine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide water conservationmeans in flush type toilet tanks wherein there would be a plurality oflever controls, each of which activates separate control mechanisms fordispensing a different amount of water quantity.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a waterconservation means in flush type toilet tanks which can be readilymounted within existing conventional tanks.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE1.

l URE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 1showing the adjustable bracket.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a flush ball guide rod andassociated parts. 7

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view thereof with the flush ball valveshown in cross section.

FIGURE 8 is a side cross sectional View through a dash valve seat whichforms a part of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a top elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 7 showing a modifiedconstruction of flush ball valve.

FIGURE 11 is' a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing a modified constructionthereof.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 11 showing a modifiedpositioning of relative parts.

FIGURE l3 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 1313 of FIGURE12.

FIGURE 14 is a front elevational view of a toilet tank shown partly incross section and shown embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 15 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines I51S of FIGURE14.

According to this invention, the numeral 21 represents a waterconservation mechanism for flush type toilet tanks, as shown in theassembly views of FIGURES 1 and 14 in the drawings. The waterconservation mechanism 26 includes a base plate 21, an adjustablebracket 22 which 3,1 99,1 lti Patented Aug. It), 1965 is attached bymeans of machine screws 23 extending through slots 24 machined in thebase plate 21, and retained by nuts 23a, thereby securing the adjustablebracket to the base plate. The base plate 21 is mounted upon the insidewall 235 of toilet tank 25, substantially as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 ofthe drawing. On the adjustable bracket 22 various fulcrums of thepresent mechanism are mounted. As may be seen from FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and5 of the drawing, there are two distinct flushing mechanisms 2'? and 28respectively. The mechanism 27 is utilized for the full flushingoperation whereas the mecha nism 23 is used for the one-half fullflushing operation. A lever 29 and connecting linkage St is formed inthe mechanism 27 and is very like a throttle stop, as used in automotiveconstruction. This type of linkage allows for any adjustment that mightbe necessary in the mechanism. The lever 29 which activates the fullflush mechanism 27 is connected to the linkage 3b which in turn isconnected to the arm 31 which is formed with a pair of tines 31a. Thearm 31 is mounted to rotate with a swiveling sleeve 32c which is pivotedupon a bolt 32d secured upon the adjustable bracket 22 by means of a nut32e. In reference to the mechanism 23 which is utilized to flush onlyonehalf of the contents of the tank 26, the latter differs substantiallyin a number of respects from the mechanism 27 above described. In thelatter instances, just as above, there is a lever 34 which operates alinkage 35 to swivel an arm in a manner similar to the lever 29, thelinkage 3i; and arm 31. At the end of arm 36 there are a pair of tines 33a and 36!); the arm is mounted to rotate with a swiveihng sleevepivoted on a bolt 36:! held to adjustable bracket 22 by means of a nutEde.

Referring again to FIGURES l, 5, and 14 it may be seen that trip linkage37 is mounted to rotate with a swivel sleeve 38c and the trip linkage 37is controlled by the tine 36a upon which it slides due to the fact thatthe tine 36a is hooked around by the linkage 3'7, as shown at at inFIGURES 1 and 14. The linkage 37 has a rubber covered extension 41, asshown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The tine extension 35b is longer than the tineextension 360. The shorter tine 36a is used in conjunction with thelinkage 37, while the longer tine 3679 which is somewhat extended andbent slightly downward is used in conjunction with a float ball rod 51 Aflush ball valve 42 made of standard design similar to the one shown inFIGURE 7, may be used with the present device. Because of the addedweight of a plastic lift tube 43 and a full flush lift washer 44 and ahalf flush washer 45, it may be necessary to install an air chamber 425,as shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, to increase the buoyancy of theflush ball, yet under certain conditions the flush ball valve 42 may besimilar in design to the solid l'lLlSh ball valve 42a, shown in FIGURE10 of the drawing, wherein there is no air chamber. The tube .3 must belong enough for the upper end thereof to be located at all times abovethe water level in the tank 26. A plastic seat 46, shown in FIGURES 8,9, and 14, may be mounted over the old flush valve seat and may beprovided with a lower guide support 47 into which the bottom end of theguide rod 43 is secured. The plastic seat 46 may be cemented to the oldflush valve seat and a bracket 49 secured to the upper part of the baseplate 21 as shown in FIGURES 6, and 16 may serve to hold a screw whichis secured to the upper end or" the guide rod 48 so maintain the guiderod in a vertical position as is substantially indicated. The swivellingsleeve She is supported rotatably free upon a bolt 33d which is securedto the adjustable bracket 22, and a nut 38s is afiixed upon the boltsecuring the same. It may be readily seen that the threaded bolts 32d,36d and 38d fit into threaded openings made in the bracket 22 and thenuts serve as lock nuts therewith. The tines 31a and the arm 31 arewelded to the swivelling sleeve 320, while the tines 36a and 36b and thearm 36 are welded to the swivelling sleeve 360. The arm 37 is alsowelded to the swivelling sleeve 38c. FIGURES ll, 12, and 13 show amodified construction wherein an extruded aluminum channel 51 is mountedbetween the bracket 22 and baseplate 21. The extruded aluminum channel51 may be mounted to the base plate 21 by means of the same screws 23 asshown in FIGURE 11. In the event the adjustable bracket 22 is requiredto be moved vertically into a position as illustrated in FIGURE 12, themachine screws 23 are utilized only to secure the channel 51 to thebaseplate 21, while the adjustable bracket 22 is secured to the channel51 by means of new screws 23b. As shown in FIGURE 10, the bracket 49carries a separate adjustable member in order to make possible thevertical adjustment of shaft 48. it will now be recognized that inactual practice the two flush mechanisms 2.7 and 28 are two entirelyseparate and distinct units. To eifect a normal flush of the toilet tank26, the lever 29 is activated by the operator causing the linkage 3% tobe moved sideways causing the tines 31a to pivot upwardly, engage thefull flush lift washer 44, causing the lift tube 43 to rise, disengagethe flush ball valve 42 from the seat 46 and to release the Wateroutward from the tank 26 into flush pipe as. Upon the release of lever29 by the operator, the mechanism 27 returns to its normal position.When the water level in the tank 26 has reached the point whereflotation of the flush ball valve 42 is no longer possible, the ballvalve 42 falls back upon the flush valve seat 46, closing the same. Thetank as is then refilled. This operation is very similar to that ofconventional toilet tanks. It will be noted that the operation of themechanism 27 did not affect the half flush mechanism 2%. half flushoperation. As linkage 35 follows the lever 34, the tines 36a and 35bbegin to pivot upwardly with the swivelling sleeve 36c, and the loop 40slides on the tine 36a so that the linkage 37 also begins to pivot andto move upwardly. As the tines rise, they engage the half flush liftwasher 45. In FIGURE 1 the rotation of the tines 36a and 36b as well asthe link 3'7 about their respective sleeves is shown in phantom lines.As the action continues the half flush washer 45 and the rubber coveredprojection 41 meet, to discontinue the further rise of the lift tube 43,the rubber covered projection 41 rests on and above the washer 45, andas the water drains from the tank as through the valve seat 46 and asthe water level becomes lower, a trip arm 4% on the float ball rod 50,as shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, engages the tine 36b during the downwardtravel of the flush ball valve 42. This action continues as the waterlevel drops. At the point where the flotation of the flush ball valve 42is no longer possible, due to the pressure of the trip arm 4%, upon thetine 36b, the flush ball valve 42 returns to its neutral position,closing the flush valve seat. Should both levers 29 and 34 beaccidentally simultaneously moved by the operator, the half flushmechanism 28 will take precedence. The trip arm 4% on the float ball rodStl may be adjusted horizontally and vertically. The ad- Moving thelever 34 initiates the justment of the trip arm 4% controls the amountof water used in the half flush operation.

and manufacture of toilet facilities.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent in theUnited States is:

A toilet flush tank comprising, in combination, a water reservoir, amounting base mounted on the inner side of a wall of said reservoir, aninlet opening to deliver water into said reservoir, an outlet opening toflush said reservoir, a valve seat in said outlet opening, a flush ballover said valve seat normally closing said outlet opening, an uprightstationary shaft in said reservoir, one end of said shaft held in saidvalve seat with the other end held in said valve seat with the other endheld to a stationary bracket, a tubing slidably mounted over said shaft,said flush ball secured to the bottom of said tubing, a pair of washers,one Washer secured to an upper portion of said tubing with the otherwasher secured to a substantially lower portion, operating meansconnecting the upper and lower washers, said operating means pivotallymounted to said base, said operating means being selectively operated toraise said slidably mounted tubing and said flush ball respectivelyabove said valve seat to open said valve to empty said reservoir, saidmeans for selectively operating said tubing comprising a pair of hingingarms, one arm in said pair connecting the undersurface of said upperwasher, and the other arm contacting the undersurface of said lowerwasher, means for flushing said toilet including a pair of handles andconnecting linkage, each handle in said pair by its respective linkagebeing operatively connected to one of said hinging arms, the selectiveoperation upon one or the other of the handles in said pair operatingthe upper or the lower washer in said tubing to move said tubing in avertical plane and a stop on the hinging arm would contacts the lowerwasher, said stop when the arm is operatingly effective to empty part ofthe contents of the tank being positioned over and above said lowerwasher to restrain the movement of said tubing to which said washer ismounted as an integral part thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/09 Prichett.11/ 31 2/38 7/40 12/60 10/63 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

FRANK H. BRONAUGH, EDWARD v. BENHAM,

LEWIS J. LENNY, Examiners.

